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Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Become a Clown Doctor?
Being a Clown Doctor is not like any other gig...even if you have performed in hospitals before. It is, however, immensely rewarding. A high level of performing skills is a prerequisite. Our Clown Doctors specialise in different areas - magic, puppetry, music, storytelling, mime etc....and come from differing performing backgrounds.
A good Clown Doctor Unit is one where the performers´ skills complement each other. Even if you are a highly skilled performer, this does not necessarily mean you will be a good Clown Doctor. Excellent improvisation skills and exceptional people skills are also needed.
Clown Doctors need to be able to relate not only to children, but also to adult patients, families and staff. The personal qualities we look for include: empathy, sensitivity, warmth, caring, good judgement, responsibility, commitment, and being a team player... and of course, being funny! Clown Doctors work from the heart….costume and make-up alone does not make you a Clown.
Performers need an ABN, public liability insurance and a ´Working with Children´ check. Income protection insurance is advisable. Unfortunately, due to the high level of skill involved, we are unable to accept volunteer or visiting Clown Doctors.
As well as ´clown rounds´ in the hospital, there are events for supporters, host hospital special events and meeting other special requests.
A professional development program for Clown Doctors includes workshops featuring medical issues, skill development, team building and problem solving. Each state team need to have regular meetings, preferably monthly and there is an annual residential workshop for all teams.
Jean Paul Bell is the Co-Founder and Creative Director of The Clown Doctors and is responsible for all aspects of performance. Dr Peter Spitzer, Medical Director, deals with the medical issues.
What is the Humour Foundation?
- The Humour Foundation is a charity with the aim of promoting the health benefits of humour.
- Jean-Paul Bell, a performer, and Dr Peter Spitzer, a general practitioner. founded The Humour Foundation in 1997
- Clown Doctors TM is the core program.
- LaughterWorksTM Is the educational program of talks & workshops for the health & welfare sector.
- The Humour Foundation is a public company, limited by guarantee. It is a Public Benevolent Institution. Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Who is Patron of The Humour Foundation?
Professor Fiona Stanley, AC, 2003 Australian of the Year
She conducts research into the health and well-being of children.
Who are the Clown DoctorsTM?
- Clown Doctors are professional performers selected for their high level of skills as well as their personal qualities such as sensitivity and caring.
- Clown Doctors are excellent at improvisation and Clown, and have other skills such music, magic, mime, puppetry and balloon sculpting.
- They are trained by The Humour Foundation to work in the sensitive hospital setting.
- The Humour Foundation provides state based on-going training in performance skills and hospital issues and holds an annual conference for all the Clown Doctors from around Australia.
Where are Clown Doctors?
- Clown Doctors are hosted by major children’s hospitals around Australia, and some general hospitals and hospices.
- As part of the Outreach program they also visit regional and metro hospitals, special health facilities, hospices and aged care facilities.
How do Clown Doctors work?
- Clown Doctors parody the hospital routine to help children adapt to hospital life. Clown Doctors improvise, and work with each child’s interests or needs.
- They can divert children during procedures, calm children in emergency and encourage children in physiotherapy. They work in partnership with health professionals.
- They visit children at the bedside and involve them and their families. While children are encouraged to participate, some prefer to observe.
- Clown Doctors ask children’s permission, either verbally or non-verbally, to enter their room or bedside space, thus returning some control to the child.
- Clown Doctors visit all wards, including burns, oncology, emergency and intensive care, and of course the corridors, lifts and foyers.
- Clown Doctors attend to the psycho-social needs of children in hospital.
- Clown Doctors work as a duo. They visit each children’s hospital three or four days a week.
Are Clown Doctors only for children?
Clown Doctors work with each person’s situation and interests and adults benefit
from Clown Doctors as much as children.
How do the Clown Doctors actually help patients?
- International research has found that laughter has both physiological and psychological benefits.
- Doses of humour help relieve fear and stress and help recovery.
- T cells and serum cortisol levels are lowered, thus boosting the immune system. Muscles are relaxed and the cardiovascular system and respiratory system benefit. It is possible that endorphins reduce pain.
What hospitals host the Clown Doctor programme?
- Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick NSW
- The Children’s Hospital at Westmead NSW
- John Hunter Children’s Hospital, Newcastle NSW
- The Royal Children’s Hospital, Brisbane QLD
- Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide SA
- The Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne VIC
- Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne VIC
- Northern Hospital Melbourne VIC
- Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth WA
- Fremantle Hospital WA
- Royal Hobart Hospital TAS
- Lismore Base Hospital NSW
- Flinders Medical Centre SA
- Bear Cottage, a hospice for children in Sydney NSW
- Daw House, a hospice for all ages in Adelaide SA
- Royal North Shore Hospital NSW
- Alice Springs Hospital NT
Do Clown Doctors visit other hospitals?
As part of the outreach program, Clown Doctors make one-off or regular visits to other hospitals. Hospitals visited regularly include Royal Darwin Hospital, Gold Coast Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre, Launceston General Hospital and North West Regional hospital, Burnie Campus.
How many people benefit?
Currently the 55 Clown Doctors around Australia make a difference to about
85 000 people a year.
Who runs the Clown Doctor program?
- The Humour Foundation is a charity with the aim of promoting the health benefits of humour.
- The Humour Foundation was founded in 1997 by Dr Peter Spitzer, a general practitioner, and Jean-Paul Bell, a performer.
- Clown DoctorsTM is the core program.
- LaughterWorksTM Is the educational program of talks & workshops for the health & welfare sector.
How is Clown Doctors funded?
It is funded by the community through donations, sponsorship, grants and fundraising events.
- Commonwealth Bank Staff Community Fund has been Principal Partner since 1999. Staff choose to participate in the payroll deduction scheme and raise funds.
- Cadbury Schweppes became Principal and Strategic Partner in 2003. Staff raise funds and the company provides substantial financial and in-kind support.
How will the money raised be spent?
- It will help Clown Doctors bring more smiles to more sick children across Australia.
- The Humour Foundation aims to have Clown Doctors in every children’s hospital 5 days a week.
What is LaughterWorks?
- Presenters give talks and workshops to health professionals, and community organizations on humour for health and well-being.
- LaughterBoss is a training program to meet the demand, especially in aged care, for talks and workshops. The concept is that one person from an aged care facility takes on, as well as their regular work, additional training and the role of LaughterBoss in their facility.
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